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Getting to Know Maui

© Lottie Tagupa

Located on the isthmus between Haleakala and the West Maui mountains, central Maui is the hub of commercial and governmental activity. It is the most densely populated area on the island. Often windy and covered in acres of sugar cane fields and dotted with areas of industrial, residential and shopping complexes, Kahului is the location of the islands only deep water port and the location of it's largest airport. Just adjacent to Kahului is Wailuku. Wailuku is the county seat of Maui and Maui's old town center. The streets in Wailuku town are narrow and charming.

Home of the famous Road to Hana, east Maui is mostly a coastal experience that runs the length of the Hana Highway from Paia through to Kipahulu. The two lane highway is narrow with over 6000 turns and seemingly just as many waterfalls. The drive from Kahului through to Hana takes between two and three hours through the tropical forests of windward Maui. Also along this highway are the small towns of Paia, a sugar plantation town in the early 1900's and the fishing village of Keanae and the sleepy village of Wailua. There is also many beaches including Hookipa, popular for windsurfing and Wainapanapa's black sand beach and caves. Continue past Hana and through Hamoa, Puuiki toward Kaupo, to find Kipahulu Valley.

The area along the south shore of Maui between Maalaea and Makena is one of the sunniest locations on the island where great beaches, luxury, views, boating and golf are the attraction. Maalaea is the location of Maui's most centrally located small boat harbor where fishing expeditions and tours regularly depart, and also where the new Maui Ocean Center is located. Continuing along the coast will bring you to the fast growing town of Kihei with it's many shops and mini malls. With less than 10 inches of annual rainfall, Kihei has the most sun and the least rain on the island and is popular for it's beaches and reasonable priced condominiums and hotels. The atmosphere changes at the intersection of South Kihei Road and Olokani Road. Here is the entrance to the resort area of Wailea. The changes in the air is decidedly rarefied with it's manicured roadways and collection of multimillion dollar oceanfront resorts, vacation homes and wonderful beaches. Five star luxury hotels aside, Wailea has a shopping village, three golf courses, with an additional three near by, and a tennis complex. There is also a scenic 3 mile oceanfront jogging/walking path, a native coastal plant garden, and an ancient lava-rock house.Continue past Wailea is Makena. With it's narrow country roads and sparse development, the beaches here are wide, isolated and rugged.

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